CYBERCRIME AND CYBERSECURITY - 2024/5

Module Overview

The study of cybercrime and cybersecurity not only represents one of the key emerging areas of research within contemporary criminology but is also a crucial problem of national policy and crime control. Recent (2016) data from the Crime Survey for England and Wales suggest that cybercrime may now be the most prevalent form of criminality in the UK and repeated breaches to key infrastructures across most jurisdictions have emphasized why it is has also become one of the main threats to international peace and security. 

This module will introduce students to the key themes within the study of cybercrime and cybersecurity – including, offence types and their prevalence; typical victims and perpetrators; policing and control measures; varieties of cybersecurity responses and the ‘human’ problem in making these resilient. 

Module provider

Sociology

Module Leader

MCGUIRE Michael (Sociology)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 7

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Semester 2

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

None

Module content

Indicative content includes: 

Introduction 

Cyber dependent Crime (I) - Malware & Ransomware 

Cyberdependent Crime (II) - Bots 

Cyberenabled Crime-  Fraud 

Sexual Offending and Indecent Imagery 

Hate Speech & Trolling 

Stealing Ideas in the digital domain 

State and Corporate Sponsored Cybercrimes 

Cybersecurity – themes and methods 

Humans and other problems with Cybersecurity 

Cybercrime 4.0?

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

N/A

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate





Learning Outcome


Assessed by




1,2,3,4,5

• 2 x 2,000 word coursework

• Formative essay plans and proposals

• Two coursework of 2,000 words. Feedback will be provided to students both via written and verbal comments

• Proposals and plans for the summative assessments. Verbal and written feedback will be provided to students.

Module aims

• Define the key threats to digital networks posed by cybercriminals
• Evaluate the effectiveness of cybersecurity response to such threats
• Consider the key policing strategies for managing cybercrime
• Identify how appropriate existing legal frameworks might be for prosecuting and punishing cybercriminals
• Critically analyse the explanatory power of available theoretical frameworks within criminology when applied to cybercrime
• Offer a practical understanding of cybercrime prevention
• Develop skills in formulating case study evidence for cybercrime and cybersecurity

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:

Foster an advanced ability to make connections and distinctions between theories evidence which apply to real world contexts of cybersecurity and cybercrime. 

Knowledge and understanding of this and the ways cyber-criminality and cybersecurity intersect with public policy and the operations of the criminal justice system is fostered through lectures and seminars that guide students through relevant material and develop their capacity for critical thought. Students are encouraged to pursue deeper study independently through extensive reading and to apply learning to their own specialist substantive areas or interests. Teaching and learning consists of a mixture of lectures, seminars and applied case study exercises, Guest speakers with expertise in cybercrime theory and the implementation of cybersecurity measures will provide engagement with innovative and leading edge developments in cybercrime theory and the practical responses to preventing cybercrime

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: SOCM051

Other information

The Department of Sociology is committed to developing graduates with strengths in Employability, Digital Capabilities, Global and Cultural Capabilities, Sustainability, and Resourcefulness and Resilience. This module is designed to allow students to develop knowledge, skills, and capabilities in all these areas, as highlighted throughout this module descriptor. A summary of how this is achieve for each of the five key pillars is provided below:

Digital Capabilities 

- Understanding how digital networks function 

- Appreciating how to make digital security more effective 

 Employability 

- Gaining practical experience for work in information and cybersecurity 

Global and Cultural Capabilities 

- Developing understanding of global responses to network security 

- Enhancing understanding of cultural factors in cyber offending

Programmes this module appears in

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2024/5 academic year.